A new three-year bachelor of nursing program for the University of New Brunswick, thanks to financial support from the provincial government.

The pilot program will launch in September of 2023.next year.

The provincial government is providing an initial sum of $412,000 to help the university establish the program. It will provide up to $1,237,500 over a three-year period based on the evaluation of early success and results.

With the new option, UNB’s Saint John campus will offer 21 additional seats for the bachelor of nursing program.

The program has three terms per year instead of two, which will allow students to complete the program faster.

This latest initiative responds to the action item related to the enhancement of nursing education in New Brunswick included in the Nursing Resource Strategy and complements other initiatives such as:

• Helping some nursing students study closer to home in Miramichi and Moncton.

• Expanding nurse practitioner programs at Université de Moncton.

• Launching Step Up to Nursing, a nursing program that combines work and education and provides salary and tuition support to participants.

• Offering a mental health specialization and doubling the number of nurse practitioner seats at UNB.

• Increasing the number of seats available for licensed practical nurses to apply directly to a bachelor of nursing program.